My MJ video tributes

Michael Jackson Anniversary Tribute - Will you be there

Michael Jackson Anniversary Tribute - Smile

"I think entertainers are in a position today to change a lot about certain things, especially young people's minds."
~ Michael Jackson

Besides being one of the worlds best entertainers, Michael Jackson was
always trying to teach very important messages and philosophies. Michael
Jackson was very respecting of his position as a role model for so many
young people. While most adults loose touch with their inner child,
Michael always knew how important it was to keep his inner child alive.
Michael had a genuine love for people and humanity and always felt
compelled to help people, but especially children. He believed that
children should be the focus, because children are the future. When he
was asked "What is your philosophy for staying at the top?", he
responded, "Well, I think being humble, believing in yourself
and having true love in your heart for the world and really trying to
help people through lyrics and the love of music and dance, because I
truly do love people, very much."

"I will never stop helping and loving people the way Jesus said to. He said, continue to love... always love." ~ Michael Jackson

Some of Michael Jackson's most well known songs were songs which
promoted the idea of improving the world, and yourself. In his song
"Heal the world", he shows his deep sense of kindness towards people and
his compassion for human suffering. Michael was on a mission to fight
indifference, and get people to reconnect with their empathy for other
people in the world less fortunate than themselves. He understood that
we are all connected, and what hurts one human soul on the other side of
the world, in turn hurts your own. Michael had a perfectionist type of
attitude towards the world, and wouldn't be satisfied until everyone
could live in peace. He was tired of the hatred. He was tired of the
children needlessly suffering. We was tired of greedy corporations
putting profit over people. He was tired of the racism and
prejudice. He just simply wished that people would behave ethically and
treat others how they would want to be treated. Because Michael tried
very hard to keep his inner child alive, he knew the importance of the
imagination and staying open to all the possibilities in life.

"I love E. T. 'cos it reminds me of me.
Someone from another world coming down and you becoming friends with them and this person is, like,
800 years old and he's filling you with all kinds of wisdom and he can teach you to fly. That
whole fantasy thing which I think is great. I mean, who don't wanna fly?"
~ Michael Jackson

Messages In His Music Overview:

We are The World.................................(making the world better)
Heal The World ......................................(making the world better)
Man In The Mirror...................................(self-improvement, making the world better)
They Don't Really Care about us..........(police brutality, questioning authority)
Earth Song..............................................(environmental)
We've Had Enough................................(anti war)
Black or White........................................(anti-racism)
Can You Feel It......................................(non prejudice, loving one another, anti-war)
Why You Wanna Trip On Me.................(problems in the world)
Shout.......................................................(problems in the world)
Keep The Faith......................................(Self-improvement, believing in yourself, following your dreams)
Beat It......................................................(avoiding danger, non-violence)
Money.....................................................(anti-greed, against living for money)
Ghosts....................................................(Against Jealousy)
Little Susie.............................................(Sexual abuse, Child abuse, Empathy)
Tabloid Junkie.......................................(not trusting the tabloids)
Bad.........................................................(Changing the the world)
Cry..........................................................(the
connectedness of all people, changing the world if we work together,
optimism)
Do You Know Where Your Children Are................................(Child Prostitution, sexual abuse)
The Lost Children.................................(Missing Children)
Leave Me Alone...................................(Fighting for what you believe in)
What More Can I Give.........................(Helping people in the world)
There Must Be More To Life Than This .................................(anti war, world peace, human rights)
We Are Here To Change The World..(making the world a better place)

Heal The World

Lyrics from "Heal the World":
Heal the world, make it a better place...

For you and for me and the entire human race.
There are people dying, but if you care enough for the living,
make a better place for you and for me.
We Could Really Get There

If You Cared Enough
For The Living
Make A Little Space
To Make A Better Place...

We Could Really Get There
If You Cared Enough
For The Living
Make A Little Space
To Make A Better Place...
[FULL LYRICS][WATCH VIDEO]

His
song "Man in the Mirror", was all about the philosophy of
self-examination and self-improvement. It's about being honest with
yourself and coming to terms with areas in your life that you could
be doing more to help other people, and ultimately yourself.
Michael Jackson had a clear message when it came to making the world a
better pace. Focus on changing yourself for the better before you blame
others. He was very much against being a hypocrite in your judgments of
others. Michael understood that If you are going to judge others, you
should first make sure that you are not guilty of the same thing.

When asked the meaning of the the song he stated:"That's my philosophy... If you want to make the world a
better place, take a look at yourself, and then make a change. People
don't look at themselves honestly. They don't look at themselves
and point the finger. It's always the other guy's fault. You
should change yourself. Look at yourself, make better of yourself...
I'm never totally satisfied, I always wish the world could be a
better place."

Man in The Mirror

Lyrics from "Man in the Mirror":

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change...

I've Been A Victim Of A Selfish
Kind Of Love
It's Time That I Realize
That There Are Some With No
Home, Not A Nickel To Loan
Could It Be Really Me,
Pretending That They're Not
Alone?
[FULL LYRICS] [WATCH VIDEO]

Michael Jackson on appreciated the contributions of others that tried to make the world a better place:"I love people who have really contributed to the pleasure and
happiness of the planet and mankind, people with light, from Walt
Disney, to Ghandi, to Edison, to Martin Luther King. These are people
with light, people who really cared about children, bringing families
together, and love. That's what I try to say in my music and in my
songs."

Lyrics from "Can You Feel It" :

All the colors of the world should beLovin each other wholeheartedlyYes, its all rightTake my message to your brother and tell him twiceSpread the word and try to teach the manWho is hating his brother,When hate wont do, hoocuz were all the same,yes the blood inside of me is inside of you

Michael
Jackson believed in self-improvement

"I'm
never pleased with anything, I'm a perfectionist, it's part of who I
am." ~ Michael Jackson

The
idea of self-improvement and improving the world go hand in hand
because they are one in the same. Michael Jackson was a perfectionist
when it came to his art, because he cared so much about helping
people and making the world a better place. The more you love people
and want to help them, the more of a perfectionist mindset you will
have, because you will want to create something that will speak to
their hearts and influence them in a positive way, so that they too
will begin to change themselves and the world. Michael was the master
at creating music that spoke to people on a deep level which caused
them to self-reflect and examine their lives, and make positive
changes.

In his
book Moonwalker, he stated: "I'm a perfectionist by nature. I
like things to be the best they can be. I want people to hear or
watch something I've done and feel that I've given it everything I've
got."

"I
give my all in my work, 'cause I want it to just live and give all
that I have, you know, and it has to be that way". [interview with Ebony Magazine]

When asked what makes him angry:"I believe in perfection. I try to create that in everything we do.
We never seem to totally get there but I believe in perfect execution
and when we don't get at least 99.9 percent I get really upset."

"I
believe in the Bible and I try to follow the Bible. I know I'm an
imperfect person... I'm not making myself an angel because I'm
not an angel and I'm not a devil either. I try to be the best I can
and I try to do what I think is right. It's that simple...I don't
just pray at night. I pray at different times during the day.
Whenever I see something beautiful, I say, "Oh, God, that's
beautiful." I say little prayers like that all through the day."
[1979 JET Magazine]

This
shows that Michael Jackson lived by the philosophy of following your
conscience and trying to do your best and improve yourself.

His work ethic and putting perfection in his work

when asked his life purpose: "I think...to give. In the best way I can, through song and through
dance and through music. I mean, I am committed to my art. I believe
that all art has as it's ultimate goal the union between the material
and the spiritual, the human and the divine. I believe that to be the
reason for the very existence of art. And I feel I was chosen as an
instrument to just give music and love and harmony to the world. To
children of all ages, and adults and teenagers.... I love people of all
races from my heart, with true affection."

"In
the end, the most important thing is to be true to yourself and those
you love and work hard. I mean, work like there's no tomorrow. Train.
Strive. I mean, really train and cultivate your talent to the highest
degree. Be the best at what you do. Get to know more about your field
than anybody alive. Use
the tools of your trade, if it's books or a floor to dance on or a
body of water to swim in. Whatever it is, it's yours. That's what
I've always tried to remember. I thought about it a lot on the
Victory tour."

Michael
Jackson believed in standing up for what you believe in

Every choice we make in life is very important and shouldn't be taken
lightly. Fighting for what is right, standing your ground and
following your conscience, will allow you to be happy with yourself
at the end each day. If you're ever treated unfairly, it's how you
react to it that matters. If you let your enemy cause you to do evil,
they have won. Michael Jackson believed in that. "Sometimes when
you're treated unfairly it makes you stronger and more determined. I
admire that kind of strength. People who have it take a stand and put
their blood and soul into what they believe."

Lyrics from "Leave Me Alone":
Cause there's a time when you're right
And you know you must fight...
And there's a choice that we make,
And a choice you must take...
[FULL LYRICS][WATCH VIDEO]

Michael
Jackson was inspired by Jesus, children and child-like innocence

One of
Michael Jackson's most significant philosophies was his philosophy
of the importance of keeping your childlike innocence and loving
others. Michael Jackson had a humble spirit and realized how
important it is to stay in touch with your child-like qualities as an
adult. Michael Jackson was an avid reader of the bible, and was
deeply influenced by the teachings of Jesus.

Quotes:

"I'm
trying to imitate Jesus in the fact that he said to be like children,
to love children, to be as pure as children and to make yourself as
innocent and to see the world through eyes of wonderment and the
whole magical quality of it all."

"Like
the Bible says. A child should be leader of them all, and to be led
by that kind of innocence. Didn't Jesus say 'bring on the children?'
Be like the children. Not childish, but child-like. That kind of
innocence."

"I
will never stop helping and loving people the way Jesus said to. He
said, continue to love... always love. Bring on the children. Imitate
the children. Not childish but child-like."

"Jesus
said to love the children and be like children. Be youthful and be
innocent and be pure and honorable... He was talking to his apostles.
And they were fighting over who was the greatest among themselves,
and he said, 'Whoever humbles yourself like this child is the
greatest among me.' And he always surrounded himself with children,
and that's how I was raised, to be like that and to imitate that."

"Love. Children are loving, they don't gossip, they don't complain,
they're just open-hearted. They're ready for you. They don't judge. They
don't see things by way of color. They're very child-like. That's the
problem with adults: they lose that child-like quality."

"The
more we cultivate little adults in kids' bodies, the more removed we
ourselves become from our own child-like qualities, and there is so
much about being a child that is worth retaining in adult life."
[2001, Oxford Speech]

"I'm
crazy about them. It is the innocence they have; they are the way I
wish the world really was, because they are not phoney and they don't
know prejudice. Prejudice is taught. If the world were full of only
children, it would be a much better place......"I've always
been totally crazy about children. I feel that they are more than
just children; that they are all little geniuses and that they have a
secret all of their own. A secret that they cannot always
express....I studied child psychology because of my love for children
- all over the world.....If a kid doesn't like you, he'll tell
you. But adults pretend and put on phoney ways. I wish the world
could be full of children!"

Being
able to give back is what made Michael Jackson happy.

"I
would like to thank all of the children of the world, including the
sick and deprived. I am so sensitive to your pain." ~ Michael
Jackson

Michael
was extremely upset by stories of children being hurt. He was always
writing songs to appeal to peoples emotions and sense of empathy for
human life. One example is his song "Little Susie" [Lyrics] [Videos], inspired by a
true story... Michael Jackson had a tough childhood, was
abused by his father, and missed out on many typical childhood
experiences. This caused Michael Jackson to have a deep empathy with
children and how important it is to have a good childhood filled with
love, playfulness, and magic. Michael Jackson understood that
children are the future. His lack of childhood caused him to be very
sad for a long time, but he was able to remedy his sadness by helping
others. Oprah asked him: "Are you really happy now because you seemed
sad for a long time..." Michael replied: "I was sad for years and
years and years but I'm happy, I'm getting there, yes, I'm very
happy." Oprah: "And what's made you happier?"
Michael: "Being able to give back and to help people. Heal The
World Foundation which I've formed, which helps children and healing
and the world..." Michael is a
shining example of how people can be made happier by helping others.
Michael helped terminally ill children all the time by allowing them
to come to his ranch: "And we'll have like a hundred bald
headed children, they all have cancer, and they're all running
around. And they are enjoying themselves and it makes me cry happy
tears that I was able to do this for them. It makes me so pleased
inside." Michael Jackson
wanted to give children the childhood that he never had:"We
have a magic show, we show the current films, there's cartoons,
anything so that they can escape to that world of magic that they
don't have a chance to experience, the world I was deprived of when I
was little." Michael Jackson
believed in the power of hope and love, for healing sick children:
"With just a little love and a little caring, I have
seen kids totally turn around. Where you can't find any cancer at
all anymore in their body. I've done it a lot of times. I'm not
trying to say I'm Jesus Christ. We should just give a little more
attention to the power of love and caring and faith and prayer."

Michael Jackson on how he related to Princess Diana:

"She was just a wonderful, warm, compassionate, person... very caring,
very caring. It was real. It wasn't a publicity... stunt. It was real. She
really cared. I'm the same way. If feel the same way that she does
about children and the future of our children and the future of the
world."

Michael understood that helping others is really the same as helping
yourself... Because, when you help others, you are increasing your
own sense of self-worth and you begin to love yourself more. Simply
put, helping others makes you feel better about yourself. Although
Michael contributed so much with his music, and did so much for
children and to make the world better, he was never satisfied and
always wanted to do more and give more of himself... Michael knew how
good it made him feel to live a life devoted to serving and helping
others and wanted his fans to have the same feeling.

Lyrics from "Man in the Mirror":I'm Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right

"I've
traveled the world over 8 times. I do as many hospitals and
orphanages as I do concerts. But, of course, it's not covered (by
the press). That's not why I do it, for coverage. I do it because
it's from my heart. And there are so many children in the city who
haven't seen the mountains, who haven't been on a carousel, who
haven't pet a horse or a llama, never seen them, so if I can open
my gates and see that bliss, an explosion of screaming laughter from
the children and they run on the rides, I say "Thank you, God."
I feel I've won God's smile of approval, because I'm doing
something that brings joy and happiness to other people."

Michael Jackson on what he wanted to be remembered by and his legacy: "Helping - especially children."

Michael
Jackson understood that children are the future

"I
truly care about children, and about the future for our children. I'm
a little frightened about what the future is going to bring. I truly,
truly love them and care about them. I will always help them." ~ Michael Jackson

When I
go on tour, I visit hospitals, terminally ill children. At my ranch
at Neverland, we have many terminally ill children as our guests. We
do this every few weeks. You do it because you truly love them and
you care." ~ Michael Jackson

We Are The World

Lyrics from "We Are The World":
There comes a time
When we head a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all

We can't go on
Pretneding day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are all a part of
God's great big family
And the truth, you know love is all we need

We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
[FULL LYRICS][WATCH VIDEO] [WATCH OLD VERSION]

Michael
Jackson understood the value of good parenting and a strong family
bond

"I
realize that many of our world's problems today from the inner city
crime to large scale wars and terrorism and our overcrowded prisons
are a result of the fact that children have had their childhoods
stolen from them."

Childhood
shapes people into who they will become as adults. When something
traumatic happens to a child, or when a child feels unloved for any
reason, it can deeply scar them and drive them into self destructive
behavior as an adult. The feeling of lack of love can leave and empty
void that people spend their entire lives trying to fill.

"If you don't have that memory of being loved, you are condemned to
search the world for something to fill you up. But no matter how much
money you make or how famous you become, you will still feel empty." ~ Michael Jackson

"I'm
just very sensitive to their pain and I am very sensitive to the
family, the human condition, you know? On that subject, it means a
lot to me and I want to help. Whatever I can to help that.....
Everything, in my heart, is for them." ~ Michael Jackson

"....I
never had a childhood. When they're in pain, I feel their pain. And
when they're in despair, I feel their despair. I have such concern
about the plight and the state of our children today. If there was
one day where kids could get with parents and bond, this would make
such a difference...."[2001
online audio chat]

My
childhood was completely taken away from me. There was no Christmas,
there was no birthdays. It was not a normal childhood. No normal
pleasures of childhood. Those were exchanged for hard work, struggle
and pain, and eventual material and professional success. But as an
awful price, I cannot recreate that part of my life, nor would I
change any part of my life.

"I
would love to see a children's festival, to hear children's
choirs, pretty much present when I come to different countries,
singing some of their favorite songs of mine. We should forge and
create a children's day, a celebration internationally, where
children are honored. Where parents can take their children to the
movies or to the toy store or to the park. And, that, alone, will
create a bonding. Because the family bond has been broken. They don't
eat with their children or speak to their children much anymore, or
mother their children.... We have Mother's day, Father's Day -
no Children's Day. And I would love.... to see them sing songs, or
a parade or something. I would love that.....I've always done that,
yes..... I've done it all my career: "Heal The World",
"We Are The World"; "Will You Be There", "Man
In The Mirror", about the planet, earth songs..... because
that's where my heart is. I care. My biggest dream is to have a
Children's Day, where children can bond with their parents."

Even though Michael Jackson's childhood was lacking in normal
childhood pleasures, he wouldn't have changed a thing about it,
because he knew that it was that hardship that made him the person he
was... It caused him to be an extremely empathetic person. Sometimes
the hardest, most difficult times in our lives are really a blessing
in disguise, because they can shape us into stronger, better people,
if we allow ourselves to grow positively instead of negativity.
Michael is the perfect example of this. No matter what bad things
happen to you in life, you should always learn from it and use to
grow and make yourself a better person.

Michael
Jackson was an amazing father

"Ever
since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever
imagine. And I just want to say that I love him so much." ~
Paris Jackson

"I
want to be the best father in the world of course."~ Michael
Jackson

"I
kinda felt like no one would understand what a good father he was...
Like I would say that he was like the best cook ever... He was just a
normal dad, except for I'd say that he was the best dad ever." ~
Paris Jackson

Michael
was sensitive to the needs of children and to the importance of the
family bond. Michael Jackson always held the idea of family in high
regard. He knew first hand how important childhood was, and the
damage that could be done, if children weren't given the
opportunity to be kids. Later in life he became a father to 3
children, whom he loved very much. From their testimony, it's not
hard to believe he was an outstanding father. A moment that I can
never forget is when his daughter, Paris Jackson spoke at his
memorial. It really just confirmed in my mind how great of a parent
he must have been. [ watch Paris Jackson at memorial]

"There
is no miracle in life that compares with watching your child come
into the world. I love family life....everything about it. I want
them to grow up being surrounded by love and by family."

"I do think that marriage can be a wonderful thing if it's right for the
two people involved. I believe in love - very much so - how can you not
believe after you'v experienced it? I believe in relationships. One day
I know I'll find the right woman and get married myself. I often look
forward to having children; in fact, it would be nice to have a big
family, since I come from such a large one myself. In my fantasy about
having a large family, I imagine myself with thirteen children." [his
book, Moonwalker]

"People
don't even eat with their fathers anymore, or their mothers. The
family bond has been broken, it's an outcry for attention, why are
kids going to school with guns... They want love, they want to be
touched, they want to be held, but they're busy off on their day job
and they leave them at home on the computer and they're just doing
all kinds of crazy stuff. And that's destroying our world! We need to
bond again, that's very important." [Living
with Michael Jackson documentary]

One
of the things that made Michael Jackson such a great father was his
ability to humble himself to the level of a child. He was able to be
on their level and learn from them, and just be their friend, like he
was their age... Many adults will treat their kids like little inferiors.
Michael was not that way at all.

On what he has learned from his children: "A lot. (Parenthood) reminds you to do what the Bible has always
taught us. When the apostles were arguing among themselves over who was
the greatest in Jesus' eyes, he said, "None of you", and called over a
little boy and said, "Until you humble yourself like this child." It
reminds you to be kind and humble and to see things through the eyes of
children with a childlike wonderment. I still have that. I'm still
fascinated by the clouds and the sunset. I was making wishes on the
rainbow yesterday. I saw the meteor shower. I made a wish every time I
saw a shooting star."

It's
hard to put in words, because they mean everything. They're the
world for me. I wake up and I'm ready for the day because of them.
I get them breakfast, I change diapers, if they want to read, we do a
lot of reading, we play hide and seek, we play blind fold, and I have
a wonderful time with them.

"They
love music...they are very much into the arts. But I don't push
them. I am letting them enjoy their childhood as much as possible. I
really do. I let them go to the arcade and get out and go to the
movies and do things. I think that comes naturally. You know, I want
them to get to do the kind of things I didn't get to do. So I fill
them with a lot of enjoyment that way - a lot of amusement. You
know? I get pretty emotional when I see them having a wonderful time;
when they are on a ride and they are screaming and they are happy and
they are running. It makes me emotional, cause I see they are having
a real good time."

Michael
Jackson had a deep respect for all life

Michael Jackson on the values he was raised with as a child: "Caring. And reading the Bible, learning about God, Jesus, love. He
said, 'Bring on the children', 'Imitate the children', 'Be like the
children' and 'Take care of others.' Take care of old people. And we were raised with those values. Those are very important values and my family and I we were raised with those values and they continue strong in us today."

Michael
Jackson had an extremely empathetic nature and was constantly growing
that part of his being, and not letting it die. Michael Jackson had
cared deeply about animal rights, and human rights. During one of his
concerts, he called a security guard to remove a little bug from the
stage so it wouldn't be accidentally stepped on:"Security! Can
you get this bug... I don't want anyone to step on this bug." A
security then walks onto the stage and picks up the bug. Then Michael
said: "Don't kill it though, don't kill it!!!" [watch video]

Michael Jackson's respect for animals: "God created animals. And they're loving; they're beautiful. I feel
the way (anthropologist) Jane Goodall does or any of those naturalists. I
don't find my interest in animals weird or strange at all."

When
asked his opinion on animal hunting Michael replied: "I
hate it. I hate taxidermy shops and all that crap."

Screenshots from "Earth Song"

Dolphin hunting

Seal hunting / clubbing

Starvation

Pollution

Poaching

Deforestation

Collateral Damage from war

Michael in distress

Michael
Jackson's love of nature and concern for the environment

Michael
Jackson was very saddened by the destruction of the environment. He
hated the fact that big corporations were abusing the earth for
greed. He especially hated the lack of respect for life and the
needless suffering that happens all around the world. His deep
comprehension of the worlds problems is made very clear by the lyrics
of "Earth Song". There are few songs in the world that are as
emotionally gripping and that trigger as much of a feeling and sense
of connection with all life. Michael was always on a mission to bring
awareness to world issues and bring love into peoples hearts. We
wanted people to share in his empathy, but at the same time, bring a
feeling of hope to the world, that things could get better if
everyone worked together for one common goal.

Earth Girl from "This is It"

Michael performing "Earth Song" in "This is It"

Lyrics from: "Earth Song":
What about yesterday
What about the seas
The heavens are falling down
I can't even breathe
What about everything
I given you
What about nature's worth
It's our planet's womb
What about animals
Their kingdoms in dust
What about elephants...
Have we lost their trust
What about crying whales
We're ravaging the seas
What about forest trails
Burnt despite our pleas
What about the holy land
Torn apart by creed
What about the common man
Can't we set him free
What about children dying
Can't you hear them cry...
Where did we go wrong
Someone tell me why
What about baby boy
What about the days
What about all their joy
What about the man
What about the crying man
What about Abraham
What about death again
Do we give a damn?

"I
really feel that nature is trying so hard to compensate for man's
mismanagement of the planet. Because the planet is sick. Like a
fever. If we don't fix it now, it's at the point of no return. This
is our last chance to fix this problem that we have, where it's like
a runaway train and the time has come..."

"I'm
very concerned about the plight of the international global warming
phenomenon. I knew it was coming, but I wish they would have gotten
people's interest sooner. But it's never too late. It's been
described as a runaway train; if we don't stop it, we'll never
get it back. So we have to fix it now. That's what I was trying to
do with "Earth Song", "Heal The World", "We
Are The World", writing those songs to open up people's
consciousness. I wish people would listen to every word."

Michael Jackson had a deep appreciation for life and the beauty of nature:

"Wherever
you go, man-made things are man-made, but you've got to get out and
see God's beauty of the world."

"I
pray a lot. I see a beautiful sunset and I say "God, that's
beautiful...Thank you", or a baby smile or butterfly wings or
anything like that."

"As
corny as it sounds, natural highs are the greatest highs in the
world. The stars, the mountains, children, babies smiling are just
magic."

Michael
Jackson was an advocate for a healthy lifestyle.

Michael
Jackson was also a big proponent of a health.

Fasting:

During
one interview he stated: "Every Sunday I fast. I don't eat
anything. It's just something I decided to do for my body."

In
his 1982 "Interview" Magazine interview he stated: "I
fast every Sunday. I don't eat anything. Just juices....It flushes
out the system, cleans out the colon. I think that's great. To
really make it work, you have to do it properly. That's the sewer
valve of the system. You have to keep that clean like you clean the
outside of your body. All these impurities come out of your system
because you're not clean inside. It comes out in pimples or disease
or through big pores. Toxins trying to get out of your system. People
should try to keep themselves clean."

Smoking:

Michael Jackson was also a non-smoker. When asked his thoughts on smoking he said: "I can't stand how it makes your teeth look, and how it makes your
breath smell. Most of all, I'm scared of all the diseases you get from
it, so i don't do it".

Diet:

Michael on his acne as a teenager:
"I seemed to have a pimple for every oil gland. And the more I was
bothered by it, the worse it got. I didn't realise it then, but my diet
of greasy processed food didn't help either... Eventually, things
changed. I started feeling differently about my condition. I've learned
to change how I think and learned to feel better about myself. Most
importantly, I changed my diet. That was the key."

Michael Jackson was a vegetarian and healthy eater: "I'm a vegetarian, so fortunately fresh fruits and vegetables are a favorite of mine."

"I'm
a vegetarian now and I'm so much thinner. I've been on a strict diet
for years . I feel better than I ever have, healthier and more
energetic."[Quotes from Michael Jackson's book "Moonwalker]

Drugs:

Michael Jackson didn't believe in taking any drugs: "In the field I'm in, there is a lot of that and it gets offered to
me all the time. People even go as far as to just stick it in your
pocket and walk off. Now, if it was a good thing, they wouldn't do that.
I mean, would somebody drop something beautiful in my pocket and just
walk off? But I don't want to have anything to do with any of that. I
mean, as corny as it sounds, but this is how I really believe: Natural
highs are the greatest highs in the world. Who wants to take something
and just sit around for the rest of the day after you take it (drugs),
and don't know who you are, what you're doing, where you are? Take in
something that's gonna inspire you to do greater things in the world."
[1984 Ebony Magazine]

"They love the limelight and I don't have anything in common with them.
They want to go clubbing and afterwards they want to sit around and drink
hard liquor and do marijuana and all kinds of crazy things that I wouldn't do."

Michael
Jackson promoted ethics and non-violence:

Micheal's song "Beat It" is all about the stupidity of violent
resolutions to conflicts. Getting into violent conflicts isn't worth
risk of injury. When asked about the meaning of the song he stated: "My objective is telling them, don't fight, turn the other cheek, I mean, it's your brother your killing"

"I
thought about what I'd do in that situation...A confrontation with
a gang...I wouldn't do what those people would do. The way I was
raised...I would turn the other cheek without creating a war or being
a coward either." [1995 Simulchat TV Interview]

Lyrics from "Beat it":

You better run, you better do what you can
Don't wanna see no blood, don't be a macho man
You wanna be tough, better do what you can
So beat it, but you wanna be bad
Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated[LYRICS][WATCH MUSIC VIDEO]

"I
pray that we continue to serve the world in a positive way, not a
negative way and not hurt anyone, because it's wonderful." ~ Michael Jackson

Michael
Jackson was against war and collateral damage

When asked if there was anything he wished for, Michael responded:"There's so many I have, but one of them -one of the main ones would be as simple as making the whole world happy and world peace and that is part of the reason why I do what I do."

In
Michael Jackson's songs, "We've Had Enough",
and "Earth Song" his anti-war stance is made very clear:

Lyrics from "We've had Enough"

What did these soldiers come here for? If they're for peace, why is there war ?She asked the men in blue How is it that you get to choose Who will live and who will die Did god say that you could decide ? [LYRICS]

Lyrics from: "Earth Song":

What have we done to the world? Look what we've done... Did you ever stop to notice, All the children dead from war?[LYRICS]

Lyrics from from: "Can You Feel It":

All the children of the world should beloving each other wholeheartedly,yes it's alright,take my message to your brother and tell him twice,take the news to the marching men,who are killing their brothers when death won't do, hee'cuz were all the sameyes the blood inside of me is inside of you,[LYRICS]

screenshot from "They Don't Really Care About Us" of vietnam napalm strike on a village

Michael Jackson on war: "That's what war is all about...so many of the problems in the past... I
don't think anybody likes war and, in truth, I don't like war, I like
peace, I'm a peaceful person."

Michael
Jackson was critical of abuse of authority

In his
song "They Don't Care About Us", Michael shares with us his
feelings on racism, police brutality, and corruption in the law:

They Don't Care About Us
Tell me what has become of my life
I have a wife and two children who love me
I am the victim of police brutality, now
All I wanna say is that
They don't really care about us
In the suite, on the news
Everybody dog food
black man, black male
Throw your brother in jail
Tell me what has become of my rights
Am I invisible because you ignore me?
Your proclamation promised me free liberty, now
I'm tired of bein' the victim of shame
They're throwing me in a class with a bad name
I can't believe this is the land from which I came
You know I do really hate to say it
The government don't wanna see...[LYRICS]

On the meaning of "They Don't Care About Us": "It's a
public awareness song. It's a protest kind of song - it's not a racist
song, it's an anti-racist song...."
[1995 "Making HIStory" Photo Book
interview]

Michael
Jackson was against all forms of prejudice and racism

Michael Jackson smashes windows with racist graffiti in his music video for dangerous:

Michael Jackson hated racism and hated when people suggested that he
bleached his skin because he hated his race. Michael Jackson once
said that his plan to adopt a child from every country.

"I
love what I do and I would love people to love what I do and to be
loved. I just simply want to be loved wherever I go -all over the
world because I love people of all races from my heart with true
affection" ~ Michael Jackson

Michael loves people of all races

Michael Jackson's song "Black and White" had a clear anti-racist message:

But, If
You're Thinkin'
About My Baby
It Don't Matter If You're
Black Or White

Children
have innocent minds and don't judge based on appearances nearly as
much as adults. Children have very little prejudice, until they learn
it from adults. Michael Jackson recognized his fact.

"I'm
crazy about them. It is the innocence they have; they are the way I
wish the world really was, because they are not phoney and they don't
know prejudice. Prejudice is taught. If the world were full of only
children, it would be a much better place......"I've always
been totally crazy about children. I feel that they are more than
just children; that they are all little geniuses and that they have a
secret all of their own. A secret that they cannot always
express....I studied child psychology because of my love for children
- all over the world.....If a kid doesn't like you, he'll tell
you. But adults pretend and put on phoney ways. I wish the world
could be full of children!"

I'm
really not a prejudiced person at all. I believe that people should
think about God more and creation. Look at the many wonders inside
the human bodies - the different colors of organs, colors of blood
- and all these colors do different things in the human body. It's
the most incredible system in the world; it makes an incredible
building, the human being. And if this can happen with the human
body, why can't we do it as people? And that's how I feel. And
that's why I wish the world could do more. That (racism) is the
only thing I hate. I really do. And that's why I try to write, put
it in songs, put it in dance, put it in my art - to teach the
world. If politicians can't do it, poets should put it in poetry
and writers should put it in novels. That's what we have to do and
I think it's so important to save the world." [Michael Jackson
in his 1979 JET Interview]

"It
is cruelty, it´s ugly and I hate it. You are my brother (points out
to the children). They are my brothers. If you are black, white,
Arab....we are all the same. I love all races equally.... I love all
people of the world." [1996 TV Interview with children in
Tunisia]

Michael Jackson was against envy:"It's a commonality in mankind that I don't like that part of it,
that kind of -you know, envy, but then there's a beautiful side to
mankind to, isn't there." [2005 Interview with Geraldo Rivera]

Micheal's
example teaches us not to judge on appearances

It's slander
With the words you use
You're a parasite in black and white
Do anything for news
And you don't go and buy it, buy it
And they won't glorify it, 'fy it
To read it sanctifies it, 'fies it
Then why do we keep foolin' ourselves
Just because you read it in a magazine
Or see it on the TV screen
Don't make it factual

Michael was slandered by the media. His message of questioning what you hear
in the tabloids and media was very clear:

"Like
the old Indian proverb says, do not judge a man until you've walked 2
moons in his moccosins. Most people don't know me. That is why they
write such things in wich most is not true. I cry very very often
because it hurts and I worry about the children, all my children all
over the world, I live for them. If a man could say nothing against a
character but what he could prove, history could not be written.

"Don't
judge a person by what you hear or read....there is so much tabloid
sensationalism. Don't fall prey to it. It's ugly. I'd like to take
all of the tabloids and burn them.....Some of them try to disguise
themselves, but they are still tabloids."

"It's
not true. It's like looking at a fictitious movie because it's
fiction. It's science fiction. It's not true. I know myself and
it's sad when other people have to read those things and they believe
it. I know eventually the truth will prevail and I'm about truth.

Does
it affect me? Yes. But I've become immune in a way too. I'm very
strong. I have rhinoserous skin. But at the same time, I'm human,
so anything can hurt like that. But I'm very strong. I just dont
like people hearing about such false information.

Given that tabloid journalism has much more interest in selling
stories than they have in the truth, any smart person should be very
skeptical of the validity of their exaggerated and fabricated
stories.

Innocent until proven guilty

"Everyone
who knows me will know the truth, which is that my children come
first in my life and that I would never harm any child." ~
Michael Jackson

So many people believe that Michael Jackson is guilty... Even to this
day, when I ask people, a lot of people believe he actually molested
children. I don't really judge people for believing he was guilty
because people can't control their beliefs. I just think that people
should try their hardest to believe he is innocent. Michael was never
proven guilty of anything. Try to imagine how it must feel to be
framed for a crime you didn't do, and have so many people thinking
your guilty of something so horrible.

"Before
I would hurt a child, I would slit my wrists."

"I
will say again that I have never, and would never, harm a child. It
sickens me that people have written untrue things about me."

"I
gain strength from God. I believe in Jehovah, God, very much. And I
gain strength from the fact that I know that I am innocent. None of
these stories are true. They are totally fabricated. It's very sad
and it's very, very painful. I pray a lot and that's how I deal with
it. I'm a strong person. I'm a warrior, and I know what is inside
of me. I'm a fighter, but it's very painful and at the end of the
day, I'm still human, you know? I'm still a human being, so it does
hurt very, very, very much."

"Know,
in the end, I'll be vindicated, I pray, because I know the truth. I
am an innocent person and I believe in God and love God."

By holding hatred in your heart, you are only hurting yourself.
Experiencing negative emotions like hate and anger serve no benefit.
Despite the horrible things that were said about Michael, he kept to his
peaceful nature, was willing to forgive and refused to hold bitterness
or anger in his heart.

Michael Jackson believed in love and forgiveness over hate:
"I'm
willing to forgive the press and forgive anybody... You know, I was
taught to love and to forgive, which I do have in my heart, but
please, don't believe these crazy horrifying stories..."

Michael
wanted to focus on the important problems in the world

When there is an
important goal to be accomplished, you really gotta focus on the task
at hand. Michael hated that so much attention was put in the wrong
areas. He didn't want people to be sidetracked with senseless
sensationalism, when there are important things in the world that
need to be done. While
Michael was busy trying to make the world a better place, the media
was focused on speculating into his private life and making
accusations. All Michael wanted was to help people and bring
awareness to problems in the world. In his song, "Why
You Wanna Trip On Me", he
accounts his frustration with the media's attempt to slander him,
while they should have been working with him for the common interest
of humanity. He was always disappointed with how the media would aim
their attention at frivolous matters whilst ignoring the big
problems.

Lyrics from: "Why You Wanna Trip On Me"They say I'm different
They don't understand
But there's a bigger problem that's much more in demand
You got world hunger
Not enough to eat
So there's really no time to be trippin' on me
You got school teachers
Who don't wanna teach
You got grown people
Who can't write or read
You've got strange diseases
But ah, there's no cure.
You got many doctors
That aren't so sure
So tell me
Why you wanna trip on me
Why you wanna trip on me
Stop trippin;
We've got more problems
Than we'll ever need

You got gang violence
And bloodshed on the street
You got homeless people
With no food to eat
With no clothes on their backs
And no shoes for their feet
We've got drug addiction
In the minds of the weak
We've got so much corruption
Police brutality
We've got streetwalkers
Walkin' into darkness
Tell me
What are we doing
To try to stop this
[LYRICS]

Screenshot from "They Don't Really Care About Us"

Michael
Jackson believed in being educated and learning from children

"What
we need to learn from children isn't childish. Being with them
connects us to the deeper wisdom of life, which is everpresent and
only asks to be lived. They know the way to solutions that lie
waiting to be recognized within our own hearts." ~ Michael Jackson

Michael
Jackson was big into education and knowledge. Michael said in one
interview: "I love to read and learn and all that stuff." When
it came to education, Michael was
humble and had no problem with learning from the best of the best. He
said in one interview:"The greatest education in the
world is watching the masters at work..."
Children are very in touch with their imaginations and remain
questioning an curious about life. They are humble in their
willingness to take instruction, without letting ego and pride
interfere. As a part of your education, it's important to stay in
touch with your imagination and child-like sense of curiosity.
Michael Jackson totally understood this concept.His
humble nature allowed him to admit what he didn't know and stay open
to all the possibilities. When asked by Oprah: Your 34
years old, what do you know for sure? He
replied: What do I know for sure? Oh boy, I'm still
learning... I mean, life is an education for me, I can't say I know
anything for sure... I really believe that."

In
our quest for wisdom, it's important to consider what we can learn
from children. If we humble ourselves and strip down our pride and our
ego, there is a lot of things we can learn from children. Michael
Jackson strongly believed in this philosophy: "One of
my favourite pastimes is being with children - talking to them ,
playing with them, wattlin' in the grass. They're one of the main
reasons why I do what I do. Children are more than adults. They know
everything that people are trying to find out - they know so many
secrets - but it's hard for them to get it out. I can recognize
that and learn from it. They (the children) say some things that'll
astound you. They go through brilliant, genius stages, but when they
become a certain age, they lose it. So many people think certain
things are childlike, but grown-ups are really nothing but children
who have lost all that real magic by not noticing and digging and
finding out. I believe in that deeply."

Michael
Jackson believed in honesty and respected honesty in others, which is
another reason why he respected the minds of children so much,
because children are so honest:

"Lies
run sprints but the truth runs marathons." ~
Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson believed it was important to learn from and study the bible: "Each day I take time out to study the Bible, no matter where I am. The
teachings of the Bible have added a new dimension to my life. It,
somehow, makes me whole." [1976 "Black Stars" Magazine interview]

Michael was known for his work ethic, but also for his playful spirit. He definitely knew the importance of play.
"Yes I am a workaholic, I don't
relax really... I don't sleep a lot. My mind never stops. I'm always
creating, I never stop. I love a good water balloon fight or playing
around.. Goofing off -Nintendo games, arcades...."

If your goal in life is to help people its important to study
people... They are your subject. Become a student of human psychology,
and try to learn what sorta things might effect different types of
people.

"I like to study people - be like the fly on the wall. Even if it's two
old ladies sitting on a bench or some kids on a swing." ~ Michael
Jackson

Michael
Jackson believed in keeping an optimistic outlook towards life

Despite
all the horrible things going on in the world and how badly the media was attacking his character, Michael Jackson had a
positive attitude and remained hopeful that the world could change
for the better:

"In
a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world
filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled
with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with
distrust, we must still dare to believe."

Michael Jackson believed that children were the solution to the worlds problems: "The magic, the wonder, the mystery and the innocence of a child's
heart are the seeds of creativity that will heal the world. I really
believe that."

His
optimistic attitude towards the problems of the world also came
across clearly in his song "Bad":

Lyrics from "Bad":We can change the world tomorrow, This could be a better place...
Well, they say the sky's the limit, And to me that's really true,
But, my friend you have seen nothing, Just wait 'til I get through...
[LYRICS]

There is power in numbers. One person alone can't save the world, but
a combined effort of everyone doing their part can. Michael always
remained optimistic, because, at the end of the day he believed in
humanity...

"Together
we can make a chance for the better; together we can heal the world
and make it a better place." [speaks at Carnegie Hall, New York
2001]

"I
have this dream" Poem By Michael Jackson

some people say
I live in a fantasy because I see the world differently visions come to me
in my sleep
I closed my eyes
to see what God is showing me
close your eyes
and imagine with me
see the wonder
in every living thing
if we can life
the way it is in my dreams
love will take us to a place where
god can be seen
this is my dream
I have this dream
this i believe
the world a place for all humanity
if we could take love to it's highest level
more than the world has ever seen
I have this dream

verse 2

let's put Gods love on display
angel of love come my way
it really up to you and me
one world together in harmony
in my dream I see heaven
and the face of the one perfect being
I see people turning into angels
and God giving them their wings

I have this dream
this I believe
the world's a place
for all humanity
if we could take love
to it's highest level
more than the world has ever seen
I have this dream

Michael Jackson's song "Cry" is about the interconnectedness of humanity. It has a very optimistic message that the world can change if we all work together.

screenshot from "Cry":

You can change the world (I can't do it by myself)You can touch the sky (Gonna take somebody's help)You're the chosen one (I'm gonna need some kind of sign)If we all cry at the same time tonight

Michael believed that within children was the secret to changing the
world. Michael understood that if people could just allow themselves
to become as little children and keep that childlike innocence, that
it could change the world. The key to respecting life and loving
others, is in becoming like an innocent child. The more you become
like an innocent child, the easier it is to love yourself and love
others. Having love for others and a childlike innocence
is contagious.

Michael
Jackson believed in helping the poor and underprivileged

"I
love to travel, and, so far, I've been lucky enough to see a great
deal of the world. In certain parts of the Globe, I've seen hungry
children walking the streets with no shoes on. I'm very concerned
about the hungry children of the world and I hope I can do something
positive to help alleviate this problem."

"I've
seen the very rich and the very poor, but I'm mainly interested in
the poor. I don't wanna think the whole world is just like what's
around here. I want to appreciate what I have , and try to help
others.

I
know what the rich are like. I've studied that country India so much,
and when I go to other countries, people say, "You wanna see the
ugly part of it? [Nods] That's what I want to see! I want to see what
it's really like to starve. I don't want to hear it or read it. I
want to see it."

"I
get a taste of poverty, too. When I go to a country - like in the
Phillippines and in Trinidad and in Africa - I really get out and
go to the poor sections and talk to the people. I sit in their little
huts, their cardboard houses, and I make myself at home. I think it's
important to know how different people feel, especially in my field
of endeavor."

If
you want to make the world a better place, you need to become
aware of the problems in the world, and Michael Jackson believed in
being aware and not turning a blind eye to the suffering the world.
He believed in being deeply knowledgeable of people's situations all
around the world. Despite everything Michael Jackson did for children and the world his
perfectionist nature always left him feeling as if he had not don't
enough. He held himself to incredibly high standards because of the
love he felt for others. When asked his opinion on his efforts to
help children in other countries: "I wish I could do more - I just feel so bad that I don't do enough, I really do."

Michael's song "Money" shows just how much he hated when people had money as their God.

"Money"

Money.
Money...
Lie for it
Spy for it
Kill for it
Die for it
So you call it trust
But I say it's just
In the devil's game
Of greed and lust
They don't care
They'd do me for the money
They don't care
They use me for the money
So you go to church
Read the Holy word
In the scheme of life
It's all absurd

Michael
Jackson believed in living a life of purpose

A life of purpose is what gives life
meaning. When you feel like you have a mission to help others, you
will be happier and have an easier time loving yourself

"I really believe that God chooses people to do certain
things, the way Michelangelo or Leonardo da Vinci or Mozart or
Muhammad Ali or Martin Luther King is chosen. And that is their
mission to do that thing. And I think that I haven't scratched the
surface yet of what my real purpose is for being here.

"What
can I do but bring forth the talent that God gave me? That's all I
wanted to do. To share the love and gift of entertainment. That's
all I want to do. I don't want to hurt anybody."

"I'm
just a person who wants to be honest and do good, make people happy
and give them the greatest sense of escapism through the talent God
has given me. That's where my heart is, that's all I want to do.
Just let me share and give, put a smile on people's faces and make
their hearts feel happy." [1999
The Daily Mirror Magazine]

"I
have been the artist with the longest career, and I am so proud and
honored to be chosen from heaven to be invincible." ~ Michael Jackson

Michael
Jackson's message of humbleness

"Look, we don't have control over the grounds, they can shake. We
don't have control over the seas, they can have tsunamis. We don't have
control over the skies, there are storms. We're all in God's hands. I
think that man has to take that
into consideration." ~ Michael Jackson

The quality of humbleness is what allows you to accept the truth of things,
including your weaknesses. It's what allows you to receive
criticism and judgment without letting your ego stand in the way.
Humbleness is a vitally important quality to have if your concerned
with self-improvement. Pride and ego are sure was to stunt your own
self evolution and growth into becoming a better and more perfect
person. I believe Michael thoroughly understood this concept. Despite
all the fame, he was was able to keep his humility.

When asked about what the most important qualities for someone to possess:"The most important: Stay humble. The humbleness that a child - like a
new-born baby - has. Even though you become powerful and have power
with people, with your talent....underneath all that be as humble as a
child, as a baby, and be as kind and as giving and loving. They don't
become puffed up with pride."

"I
never have felt that people should feel that they are better than
others, simply because they just happen to possess a larger share of
material items and monetary wealth than others less fortunate. I
believe in sharing, assisting, and just lending a helping hand to
people." [1976 "Black Stars" Magazine interview]

"That's
why I don't put awards of trophies in my house. You won't find a
gold record anywhere in my house because it makes you feel you've
accomplished 'look what I've done!' But I always want to feel 'no, I
haven't done it yet.' [2005 Interview with Geraldo Rivera]

Innocence [Dancing the Dream] It's easy to mistake being innocent for being simpleminded or naive.
We all want to seem sophisticated; we all want to seem street-smart. To
be innocent is to be "out of it." Yet there is a deep truth in
innocence. A baby looks in his mother's eyes, and all he sees is love.
As innocence fades away, more complicated things take its place. We
think we need to outwit others and scheme to get what we want. We begin
to spend a lot of energy protecting ourselves. Then life turns into a
struggle. People have no choice but to be street-smart. How else can
they survive? When you get right down to it, survival means seeing
things the way they really are and responding. It means being open. And
that's what innocence is. It's simple and trusting like a child, not
judgmental and committed to one narrow point of view. If you are locked
into a pattern of thinking and responding, your creativity gets blocked.
You miss the freshness and magic of the moment. Learn to be innocent
again, and that freshness never fades.

Michael believed in being honest with yourself, and remaining humble
to the truth. He believed in keeping that innocent humble perspective
on life, like children do. Children are so curious about life, and
don't feel like they know all the answers. Children are open to all
the possibilities, as opposed to being rigidly stuck on certain
ideas. Children are not dogmatic. As people grow up they start to
decide for themselves what the truth is, and they can start to close
their minds to new ideas and perspectives. Being humble and
child-like means staying flexible in your mind, and able to adapt and
change. As people grow older, they loose that innocent mind and
humble perspective on life. They begin to build walls of ego that
prevent them from receiving the truth of things. There minds become
clouded with pride, which turns into arrogance. A conceded mind is a
dead mind. Be humble and be open to the possibility that you are wrong
about something. Humbleness means not making assumptions and allowing
for all the possibilities. We would all be wise
to take Michael Jackson's message of humbleness to heart. Michael
Jackson believed in following your dreams and making them come true,
and that you can achieve anything with enough dedication and hard work.

"You
can always dream, and your dreams will come true, but you have to
make them come true." ~
Michael Jackson

Michael
Jackson was not accepting of the idea of getting old and dying

"I
think growing old is the ugliest thing. When the body breaks down and
you start to wrinkle, I think it's so bad. I never want to look in
the mirror and see that. People say growing old is beautiful. I
disagree. I don't want to look old and start forgetting. I want to
always be youthful and run around, play hide and seek, one of my favorite games."

When
asked how he wanted to be buried: "I don't ever want to be
buried... I would like to live forever"
~ Michael Jackson